Telephone-meter.



- No. 896,830.. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908. N. H. HOLLAND.

TELEPHONE METER.

APPLICATION FILED HA3. 3, 1902. RENEWED SEPT. 11, 1905.

(Eaton /13 5110456?) In A?*/ UNITED 'sT TEs PATENT OFFICE.

*- N iWiiAN-B. HOLLAND, or

i no. sense,"

Specification of Letters Patent.

BROOKLINE, MAssiionUsETTS, Assienon To cnARLEs BATE, or y BOSTON,'MAS.SACHUSETTS.' V

TEL 'PHQNE-METERQ Patented Aug. 25, 1908.

"a i icauo'iiiiiec March 3, 1902, Serial No '96,481. Renewed September 11, 1905. Serial No. 278,031. r

all w'homlfitfrcay concern: Be it Ikno'w'nthat I, NEWMAN IIOL LAND, ofi'B kline, county'of Norfolk, and State Massachusetts, have invented an 5" Improvement in Telephone-Meters, of which following description, in connection with accompanying drawings, is aspecificat gin'flike letters'on the drawings representing' like parts.

. phone metering system in which a recording device or meter is' arranged to record calls originatin'gat each station.

\ he invention is embodied in'inea ns' for controlling the recording mechanism so that c-illsi will be recorded only after two'lines {have been actually connected for conversa- ,tiorij andalso' so that calls will be recorded f'o'n'ly at the calling station, and not at-the station called;

The invention isshown as embodied in the central energy or, common battery'- system, and the meter is adapted to -be operated by a current flowing over the line from the central office source, the operation of the meter belonging o any stationdepending,

station causing a current of one character toi through said station; while a device 'for' changing the character of the current= is adapted to be 0 ei'ated in response to the 3 5 closure vofthe te ephone circuits at both of" j;tw o stations connected through the central office. 1

I In the. arrangement chosen to illustrate the invention, the closure of the telephone 40 ci ciiitat the station of the calling subscriber,

. ,which in the central energy system operates 5'1 the signalcat thecentral office, cau s'es a flow of {iiillGlltitO the calling stationof 'thefright A character to set the recording mecha ism station, (that is, to say, 4

belonging. to the/said v 7 causes the recording mechanism 'to'be placed in condition to ,beoperat'cd) recording mec ianism'; while the flow of cur-.

" rent of a different character overthe line to the, said station to operate the meteris produc ed by connecting said stationiviththe" sub and cl s e,

station of the called the circuit at the latter'station;

The controlling device for altering the 'The present inventionrelates to a telecuits controlled by controlled by each pair of plugs,

however,- upon the consecutive action of currents dif-.

changing switch 'withon t, how yever, actually roducing the operation of such character ofthe current flowing over the line is herein shown as a pole changing switch located at the central ofiice, the recording mechanism being arranged to beoperated by vcurrentsflowing consecutively in opposite di- 1" ctr-tins, the current in one-direction placing the meter in condition to operate, while the current in the other direction produces the actual operation. The operation of the said pole changing switch is controlled by electromagnets located respectively-in the circuits of two stations which have been connected at central office, the arrangement being such that the pole changing switch cannot operate until bothsaid electro-niagnets have been energized, the energizing of eachelectromagnot depending upon the closure of the telephone circuit at the station to which it belongs, so that the pole changing switch cannot operate until both stations are in condition for communication. These electro-magnets are shown as located in the cira pair. of plugs at the ceneing two of such magnets each magnet'being in a separate circuit, one corresponding'to each of two stations connected by said pair of plu s.- The pole changing tral. oflice, there i switch, therefore, wi 1 not operate to change the direction or character of the current until two stations have been connected and the telephone circuit at each station closed.

It is to be noted that the ole-changing switch, or equivalent device, is answering branch of the cord circuit, while the means for finally controlling said poleare located in the calling branch of the cord circuit, so that theoperation of themeter depends finally upon the act of the called subscriber in taking down his receiver to answer.

The meter isherein shown as operated by an armature under the influence of an elecitI'O n iagiiotiC system and-arranged to'remain in either of two positions, "one direction producing no *e-fiect on the reits .ino'veme'nt in cording mechanism, while its movement in the other'direction operates the sa d vrecordmg mechanism; After a .callhasfbeen recorded, therefore, itis necessarytozinovc the armature first In one direction'and then in the other to recorduthe' next call, the two movements being producedi'by the con'secu-, tive currents 'of different character, as

above described.

ocated in the [The drawing is a diagram showing two stations each provided with recording mechanism together with the connections between said stations and central office, and the cir-' cuits at central oflice' controlled by one pair of plugs.

hscontrol of the meter maybe accom plished by any means ca able of responding T to consecutive-currents different character to first set and then operate the meter, but novel means for controlling the meter are herein shown and form part of the present invention. With the understanding, therefore, that the specific construction and arrangement of the meter controlling devices belonging to each station, while novel, are capable "of modifications .without changing the controllin devicesatthe central cities,

the central 0- 'cc construction, whereby the operation of the recording devices is controlled, will be taken up first, and the con'" struction of the recording dcvices themsclves described subsequently, Upon taking down the receiver (as shown at station 413) the gravityhook closes the.

telephone. circuit at-the contact (I, so that,

current flows fromthe battery through the 1 conductors 1 and 2 tothe signaling magnet 3, and thence to the line a and through magnet coils c, 0 and back through contact d to line b, which is connected with the other.ter

gard to all the circuits, and it is to be understoodtherefore that the illustration is cone ventional. This completes a circuit through the instrument at station 418 and causes an .im ulse of current to flow over the line through the magnet coils c and c and also 1 throughthe signaling magnet 3 which is of usual arran ement so that the operator at central is ca led.

The magnet coils candc which'codperate with the arniatur'e e to operate the meter-are provided with a supplemental armature c which is polarized as indicated ,so that when the current flows over the circuit above traced the said armature will be attracted by the magnet c as shown, and will shunt themagnet '0 through a conductor 0 and contact 0 thus causing the magnet 0 alone to act uponthe armature e which is pivoted between the two magnets. The consequent movement of the armature eon its pivot to the position shown. is transmitted through'a crank e to the "operating shaft e ofthere cording mechanism, the said. operating shaft having a ratchet and pawl connectionwith one of the wheels 6 of the recording mechanism, so that the movement of the armature above described does not produce any movement oi the recording mechanism, but merely ceases places the. mechanism in condition to be moved or operated in response to a move-- men-t of the armature e in the opposite'direction, to the position shown at station 424.

Suchmovement is subsequently produced by an impulse of current flowing over the line in the opposite direction,-which causes the armature c to be moved towards the magnet '0 so as .to shunt the magnet c and to cause the magnet-c to operate alone upon the armature e, In /Erich results in'- the operation. of .the'meter.

' e actual recording of a'call, therefore, de- I pends first upon-the setting of the recording ,mechanism in condition .to be operated,

whichis accomplished in response to the operation of signalin central, and secondly upon a change in t e character of the cur-.. rent flowing over the line (such change being herein shown as a change in direction or p01 larity of the current), which is accom lished in response to the connection of two 'nes at the central oilice and theremoval' offthe ref ceiver at both the stations connected.

herein shown, the change incharacterof 'the current required to operate the meter ,de-. pends upon the action. of a i switch f, located at central oflice*'and'-normally held as by aspring f 'in-tl e. position shown,-so thatthe-current flowing over the line after the operatorat central has in upon being called, is the same direction as that which flows: over the line to. energize pole changing the calling signal. so that the pluggingin will not cause the meter. to" operate. The said pole changing switch is under the influence of an electro-magnet g, the circuit ,through which is normally openflbu'tg' adapted to be closed when the plug is inserted in the'jack.

As herein shown, the ordinarys'upervisory circuit (of a so-called'doublesupervisory systern) is'employedfor this purpose.- Thesaid" circuit (which is} a local circuit at central oificefinay be traced as followsz eBattery B, conductor 1, conductor-1 magnet g, conductor l (or 1 vaccording to which plug of'the cord circuit is jacked), conductor 1, (which includes one of the supervisory signal lamps) conductor 1- d to plug terminal n, which when the pin isinsertedis in contact with jack.

- term-ma n the latter being grounded or 0th 'erwise connected .withthe other, terminal of the. battery through conductors n and, n

ltisto be assumed that the plug. belonging to station 413 is'jacked,-'i. e. lthat station 4l3 has called central and that central has. re

sponded.

While the electr c-magnet gis thus energiZedas-soonas a plug is placed in any jack,

it will not operate the pole changerffor'the reason that the said pole changer isfurther controlled by circuits which depend upon. the closing of the telephone circuits at'twogco n nected stations, said circuits containin respectively electro-ma'gnets h and .hlQft ere being EtGlICult anda magnet included ehch i 413, for example,

. ductor h", conductor h,

I both are done.

' tor 1 set of circuits controlled by a pair of plugs, to

correspond to each of the stations connected. These circuits and and magnets now commonly employed to shun-t the supervisory signal lamps. closure of the telephone circuit at station and the insertion of a plug inthe'jack belonging thereto, will close the necessary circuit to energize theelectro-m'ag net It belonging to said station, the said cir- The circuit controlled :by the arrnatureofv the magnet h is utilized in the present system "to contribute in the control of the pole changer f, and'for this purpose contains an electromagnet 0, the energizing of pends of course upon the taking down of the receiver and the insertion of the plug, itbeing immaterial which is done first so long as as follows ;-Battery B, conductor 1, conducconductor 1', conductor I l, electroinagnet b, conductor 1", conductor. 1 conductor 1 conductor to terminaln', which, as previously explainer, is grounded-when the plug is in, thus completing the circuit and energizing the electro-inagnet 0. This is the circuit commonly used for shunting and putting out the supervisory signal lamp, and by placing the magnet 0 in this circuitthe purposes of the present invention may be accomplished without making any material change at the central office. The said electro-in agnet 0,located in the answering branch ot' the cord circuit, together with a 00111- panion electro-magnet o t located in the call lng branch-of the cord circuit and energized upon the taking down of the receiver at the called station, coeperate with the pole-changthesefelectro-magnets cooperate with m'e- 0 and .0 which-arc net .9 so long as the tail f ing switch, or its equivalent, in such a manner as to cause the operation of said pole; changing switch after the telephone circuits are closed at both connected stations.-

In the construction chosen for illustration,

ehanical lockin devices tail pieceff so as'to prevent the switch f from being shifted through the action of the mag herein shown as latch. These latches are pivotally supported in proximity 'r'es'pec tively to the electro-inagnet's 0 fando f, and held n engaging-positionby ineansofsprings.

The euergization of the magnetjo', however,

willattrac'tthe latch otwithjout affecting magnets present nothing novel in themselves, as they are the circuits The the latch o 'which, in turn, is capable of beingattracted when the magnet 0 becomes energized. It is necessary, therefore, that twostations'should be connected, and the receivers-removed from stations, in order to produce the operation of the switch f andconsequent-operation of the calling subscribers meter. The operation of the system as thus far described may be briefly outlined'as follows. Upon theclosure of the telephone circuit at the calling subscriber s station the operator at central isnotified in the usual way and inserts a plug in the jack of the calling line to establish I communication with the calling station; The insertion of the plug energizes the electro-magnetg which remains energized as long as the plug remains in the jack. The telephone circuit being already closed at the which de This circuit may be traced I station.

is held by either calling station, the electroanagnet owhichbe longs to the said calling station will also be energized, thus operating one of the locking devices which control the pole changing switch. .T he operation of the polechanging switch, however, is still prevented by the other lockingdevice, (in this case thelatch ,0) which is controlled by the electro-magnet 0 which corresponds to the plug used in connecting the'call'ing station with the station to be called. 'The'insertion of the plug into the jack of the station to. be called does not alone produce any further eiiect, but as soon as the subscriberv at the station called closes his telephone circuit by taking down the receiver, the other locking device 0 is at once operated and the pole changing switch is operated owing to the influence of the electro-m'agnetg. It may be noted in this connection that substantiallyjno new circuits are required at the central otlice in installing this system, it being practicable to place the electro-magnet g 'inone branch of the supervisory circuit and the electro-inagneto in the other.

The. armature of the meter is so arranged as to. remain in either,position until an impulse ofcurrent through one or the other of the electro-magnets c, '0 causes its position, it being obvious, therefore, that the hooks at both it to change I after a call has been registered there will be speak, bytaking down the. receiver at said Consequently, the change in the character of current-in response to'the connection of two stations and the closure of the linecircuit a t saidkstations, althoughthe cur'-. rent flo wslthr-ougli the meter magnets at both stations, will not produce anyeiieetual operation at the'ealled station. It is possible, however, that the subscriber may set" his meter by callingcentral ofilce and ifuns'uc? cess'ful in obtaining connection, may leav his meter s'e t, in which case a call'wouldbe recorded-against it" the next time he'vtas connected with: another subscrib er' who-.mighi call for. him. In order to guard against such accidental registration, the meter mechanpossible to operate the meter at the Wrong station." A simple and effectual expedient for this.purpose is shown, the crank e which is adapted to be operated by the armature 6 being shown as provided with a catch e by which it is connected with the sh aft e which operates thetrain of Wheels. The said catch ici ljs' under the influence of an electro-magnet tit-which is included in a branch circuit a e in the bell-circuit, so that a ringing impulse coming in through the condenser will -energize the said magnet a causing a movement of the catch a The said catch. e .is shown as pivoted uponthe crank r and providedwith a stop portion'e which engages -'with the said crank as soon as the stop has been moved far enough to become disengaged from the shaft e The parts'are so adjusted that the force of attraction will-produce a i'urthermovement of the catch which will be transmitted to the crank, causing thesame to turn and carry Wi'th'it the'armature e, the turning movement not being transmitted to the meter mechanism, because the catch has been disengaged. This will prevent any possibility of operation of the meter at the called station, While the parts will be restored I to normal and the catch reengaged the next this station.

I It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific arrangement of circuits herein shown and described, nor to the specific construction, arrangement or location of the time the meter is set in response to a call from recording mechanism, since modifications may be made Without departing from the invention.

Claims.

1. In a telephone metering system, a meter or recording device for. each station; means for operating said meter in res onse to the consecutive action of currents di ering in character; means for causing a current of one character to cooperate with the meter corresponding to one station in response to the closure of the telephone circuit at said station rior to the insertion of a plug in the jack be onging to said station; and a device for changing the character of thc'current'opcrating in response to the closure of the telephone -circuits at said station and another connected together at the central oiiice.

2. In telephone metering system, a central office" and a number of stations, and a recording instrument for each station depending for? its operation upon the consecutive action of currents differing in'character;.com bined with means for causing a flow of cur rent of. one character in response to the closure of thetelephone circuit at the station senses Where the call is originated; and means for causing allow of current of a different char,-

3. In a telephone metering system, record mg mechanism located at each station; means forsettmg the recording mechanism in response to current of one character;

means for operating saidrecording mechanism in response to current of another charac ter; means operating in response to the closure of the telephone circuit at a station Where said telephone circuit is disconnected from the circuits controlled by the plug at central .for causing current of one character to flow 'over the line to said station; and means opcrating-in response to the closure of the telephone circuits of both of two stations con nected together at central for causing current of another character to flow over the line to said stations.

4. In a telephone metering system, a central ofiice and a number of stations, recording mechanism located at each station and controlled by an armature; an electro-magnctic system adapted to move said armature in a direction to operate said recording mechan ism in response to current of a certain character only; means located at the central 0ffice for e ectrically connecting two stations;

and means operating in response to the closure of the tee hone circuits at both stations thus connector for causing a flow of current over the line of the right character to operate the meter:

5. In a telephone metering system, a central oiiice and a number ofstations, recording mechanism located at each station and controlled by an armature; an electro-magnetic system adapted to move said armature in a direction to operate said recording mechanism in response to current of a certain character only; means located at the central office for electrically connecting two stations; means operating in response to the closure of the telephone circuits at both stations thus connected for causing a flow of current over the line of the right character to operate the meter; and means located at the calledstation for preventing ter at said station.

6. In a telephone metering system, recording mechanism located at each station; an

the operation of the mearmature for operating said recording mechanism; two electro-magnets adapted to act on said armature, one magnet being arranged to move it in one direction, and the other magnet inthe other direction; a polarized armature also underthe influence of said.

electro-magnets; contacts controlled by said polarized armature adapted to shunt one or the other of said coils according to the Idir'ection of movement of saidarmature; means 1 for closing a circuit through said coils in response to the closure of the telephone circuit at the station where they are located; means for connecting the telephone at the said station with a telephone at another station; and

means for changing the direction. of the current in response to the closure of the telephone circuit at the latter station. 1

7. In a telephone metering system, the combination with a meter helonging to each station: of means for setting the said meter in condition to operate in response to current flowing in one direction from a source of current at central oflice; means for closing a circuit from said source response to the closure of the telephone circuit at the station to which the meter l)e longs; a pole changing switch: and means for opera-ting said pole elmnging switchto change the direction of the current, said means comprising electro-magnets energized by circuits closed by connecting two stations and by closing the telephone circuits at said connected stations, as set forth.

' 8. The combination with a meter for each instrument; of a device located at the centhrough said meter in j l l l l l l tral otlicc for controlling the operation of said meter; an electro-magnet. to operate said device; means located at the central ottice for closing a circuit through said electromagnet; means for preventing the operation of said. device; two electio-magnets jointly c )ntrolling said means; and means located at two connected stations for closing circuits through said electro-magnets, respectively.

v9. The combination with a meter to record calls at a sub-station: of an armature adapted h v its movement in one direction to place said meter in condition to operate and by its movement in the other direction to cause said meter to operate: and means for disconnecting said armature from said meter in response to an incoming signaling impulse at the station the calls from which are to he re corded h the meter:

In testimony whereof. I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

XIUYMAN II. HOLLAND.

Witnesses:

Ilnxnr J. Lrvsmrolm, JAS. J. Maroxm'. 

